West Oxfordshire

West Oxfordshire's population increased by about 9,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of West Oxfordshire increased by 9.6%, from just over 95,600 to 105,000.

The addition of about 9,100 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Oxfordshire was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Oxfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Oxfordshire increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 12.0% of people in West Oxfordshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

West Oxfordshire saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62.0%) households in West Oxfordshire had no children, compared with 60.2% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30.4% to 28.9%.

Across the region, Eastleigh saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households without children (from 58.6% in 2001 to 60.2% in 2011).

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in West Oxfordshire

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.1% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of West Oxfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.8% to 90.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in West Oxfordshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in West Oxfordshire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.7 points.

In 2011, 27.9% of respondents in West Oxfordshire gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 16.2% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in West Oxfordshire, 70.5% said they were Christian, compared with 82.8% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 6.9% to 7.7%.

In West Oxfordshire, 7.2% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.5% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in West Oxfordshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in West Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In West Oxfordshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 11.0% in 2001 to 14.9% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in West Oxfordshire fell from 13.1% to 12.5%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72.8% to 69.7%.

Private renting in West Oxfordshire increased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Oxfordshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.2% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.3%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.8% in 2001. The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.0% to 11.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Oxfordshire decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Oxfordshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Oxfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.6% to 12.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in West Oxfordshire

In 2011, 96.8% of West Oxfordshire residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.4% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.4% of people in West Oxfordshire said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.5% in 2001. About 1.2% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.4%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in West Oxfordshire decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in West Oxfordshire, which comprised one person, increased from 24.9% to 26.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10.2%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Oxfordshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 44.8% to 40.2%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in West Oxfordshire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 11.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.3%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 58.1% in 2001. The percentage of single people in West Oxfordshire increased from 24.7% to 27.8%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that were self-employed remained close to 12.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 59.8%, while the percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.5% to 2.3%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 9.5% in 2001 to 10.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in West Oxfordshire remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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